German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced Tuesday during a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev that the country will receive more than a hundred Leopard 1 tanks from several European Union countries.
The Leopard 1 tanks, the older model of these battle tanks, are in addition to the previously announced supply of Leopard 2 tanks. Pistorius has indicated that at least three battalions are estimated to be equipped with these tanks by the first or second quarter of 2024.
The visit, which has allowed the minister to oversee the Ukrainian military’s handling of the weaponry provided by the international community, has been kept secret for security reasons.
«I realize how proud we can be, also Germany. What we are achieving here. After the United States, Germany, together with the United Kingdom, is the biggest supporter of Ukraine,» he stressed.
Thus, he has met with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski and Defense Minister Olexei Reznikov, who has confirmed the arrival of Leopard 2 tanks to the territory. «When Boris took the ministerial post, the tank coalition was born,» has asserted the Ukrainian minister, who has confirmed on his Twitter account that «there will be more Leopard 2 tanks» after the arrival of this first package. «The tank coalition is on the road to victory,» he said.
Sources close to the German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ have pointed out that the German government has reached an agreement this week to approve the shipment of 178 of these battle tanks.
Last February 3, the German Government granted an export license for these battle tanks, as confirmed then by the spokesman of the Executive, Steffen Hebestreit, after the authorities announced that they would deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev to face the Russian invasion.
The Leopard 1 is the first tank built for the German Armed Forces after World War II. It was produced between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s, although the Army withdrew its last tanks of this model from service 20 years ago. Despite this, nine countries in the world continue to use it today.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
